Friday, July 10, 2009

A friend and I were talking recently. She has food allergies, as do both of her children. Naturally, they all are allergic to different things. And each has a list of things that they cannot eat rather than one or two items. As a mom, it is quite a feat to put dinner on the table under such circumstances. She told me that she liked reading my blog but wished that she could eat more of my recipes. I told her that most of the people that find me seem to have varying allergies. And as much as I would like to, it would be impossible for me to suit each person's needs. Some are here because of nut allergies, others for gluten intolerance, and still others are avoiding shellfish. No matter what people's circumstances are we all seem to be here for the same thing: to commiserate. And my primary message has always been that it is possible to live a fulfilling life, even though we might be limited in our choices. It has been such a joy for me to meet many of you and to hear your stories. As challenging as this situation is for me and my family, it helps to know that we are not the only ones dealing with this madness. When an allergy diagnosis is first made, it is natural to feel isolated and to think, "How am I ever going to do this?" The Internet closes that isolation gap; it is a beautiful thing!

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Food Allergies?

This is a blog for people who are limited in what they can eat. The focus of this blog is primarily wheat/gluten and nut free. Many of the recipes include dairy ingredients which can easily be substituted with a soy or non-dairy alternative. No recipes include shellfish or sesame. Another focus is healthy living through the use of organic foods and enriching activities like exercise and hobbies. I try to keep current on articles that are published about food allergies and their possible causes. If you know anyone with food allergies or happen to have them yourself, this blog is for you!

About Me

I hold a BS in Home Economics and Interior Design from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I have been a Set Decorator and Interior Designer for over 15 years, having worked on many films and television shows. Most recently, I won a Primetime Emmy for Best Art Direction for a Multi-camera Series for my work on Fox's MasterChef.
We have two young children... Milo, 6, and Ella, 8. My Husband is a comedy writer, whose Tweets are MUCH more entertaining than mine could ever be!
When I was 34 I found out that I am allergic to shellfish, after having eaten it my entire life.
My daughter has severe food allergies, including peanuts, sesame, and all nuts. She is especially allergic to pistachios. She had previously been allergic to wheat, eggs and soy... thankfully, she has seemingly outgrown those allergies.
Cooking for a child is usually a challenge, but finding things for an allergic kid to eat is next to impossible.
I started this blog because I have been learning so much and am eager to share information. Because I love to cook, recipes are a huge part of what I am posting.
It IS possible to live well with food allergies. Thanks for reading...